Lengthy Island faculty officers are united of their efforts to fight unacceptable conduct in highschool sports activities, together with derogatory language, racial slug and taunte.
Mother and father, coaches and attorneys wish to discover optimistic options for disturbing fees.
The February incident highlights tensions
In February, mother and father watched with concern whereas two feminine athletes from Elmont and Kennedy Excessive Faculty threw themselves on a basketball court docket. Initially, solely the black participant in Elmont was suspended. Later, the officers examined the video, and the white participant at Kennedy Excessive was suspended days later.
Elmont, in Sewanhaka district, is 60% black and 21% Hispanic. Kennedy, in Bellmore-Merick district, is 75% white. Jon Johnson, the president of the DADS membership of Elmont, says there’s a steady rigidity between the 2.
“Sure, you wish to have a dialog, we get it. However within the meantime, what can we do for the youngsters who nonetheless must exit on these lands, on these fields, play?” Johnson stated.
Faculty districts reply
“The assertion that the district has not responded to considerations about racism in athletics is unfaithful. The district doesn’t tolerate racism, intolerance or discrimination of any sort. We’ve got expanded the deepest excuses and we’ve got been accountable for sad behaviors which have appeared with Elmont Memorial Excessive Faculty.
“The primary goal of the district will at all times be our college students. The PTSA and DADS membership have met to debate the perfect methods to assist our college students. The aim of final month’s dialogue was to present mother and father and employees a protected house to speak concerning the frustrations and ache felt by some college students. The discussions proceed to verify greatest to make sure that the coed athletes can compete in a protected and respectful place, ”stated the superintendent of the Sewanhaka Faculty District, Regina Agrusa.
“You must be taught to hate”
Mother and father and directors say racism within the sports activities of Lengthy Island highschool has been claimed for many years, however has been below report. Accusations in opposition to the spouse and daughter of John “Junior” Gott Monitoring and daughter in Native Excessive Faculty Valley Stands had been deserted. Patchogue medford gamers say Have been subjected to racial slit Throughout a West Islip recreation.
“Anybody who noticed the musical” South Pacific “is aware of the music” You must be taught to hate and worry, “stated lawyer and lawyer Fred Brewington.
Brewington represents Roosevelt Excessive Faculty in a course of in opposition to Lynbrook and Wantagh. In Could 2023, a bunch of scholars turned their backs and It’s speculated to have fooled black gamers visiting.
“He’s attentive to our want to vary cultures in highschool and society sports activities and that is this course of,” Brewington stated.
“I’m not simply Elmont and Kennedy, however all the varsity districts within the county. How can we do a greater job? We’ll all advocate that we be certain that the Code of conduct is in drive and that there are penalties,” stated Agrusa.
“The mother and father and gamers who left right here, instructed us to close up and play. Simply play. And that is not the narrative we wish to go earlier than,” stated Father Elmont, Carlito Bayne. “It is discouraging.”
Whereas some mother and father requested for a mill, the superintendents from Sewanhaka, Bellmore -Merrick and Part eight – the varsity sports activities administration physique – see one other option to observe.
“The reply doesn’t disguise from one another. You will need to educate about how wealthy interplay is and why it’s vital, so we don’t [have] Default prejudices that drive us in our silos, ”Brewington stated.
Jennifer Mclogan
